C.J. Spiller was touted as the focal point of Buffalo’s offense heading into the first year under head coach Doug Marrone. But a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 4 by the dynamic back played a large role in compromising those plans. As a result Spiller fell well short of his personal goals as well as his primary team goal, which was to reach the postseason for the first time in his four-year career. Walking out the door this week at the conclusion of the 2013 campaign Spiller is very clear on his role in Buffalo’s offense and optimistic about 2014.

“I don’t have any concerns or any doubts what my role will be,” said Spiller. “I think we just had an obstacle in the road when I got injured in Week 4. It kind of hindered some of the things that we were able to do with me. When you keep coming in and out of games, it’s hard to really get a guy going like that.”

The first two weeks of the season Spiller was on the field for 59 percent of the plays in both games (37, 44 plays). After that he did not see more than 40 percent of the snaps in a game until Week 16 against Miami (37 plays – 47%) and the season finale at New England (33 plays – 48%).

Despite having an injury that sometimes takes four to six weeks of rest to heal, Spiller only missed one game in Week 8 at New Orleans. Still, it was clear he wasn’t himself most notably in games at Miami in Week 7 when he re-aggravated the injury and Week 10 at Pittsburgh.